Leaders, influential agents, people holding inordinate power should mend their own matters before meddling in the affairs of others.
The Vote
Voting for elective officials is a freedom afforded citizens of many (but not all) countries around the world. Some abuse the vote. Some take it for granted. Holding “public elections” does not in self “guarantee” free” and “fair” elections.
Voter turnout in the United States of America consistently lags behind that of the “developed” nations around the world. Average voter turnout of OECD countries is 69 percent.
Voter Turnout in the United States of America
- 2016 estimate: 55.72 percent of eligible voters
- 2020 estimate: 66.5 percent of eligible voters
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F |
actors found to be Contributive to Low Voter Turnout
- Apathy and ignorance (particularly among young people who are otherwise eligible to vote)
- Unawareness of voting process
- Perceived corruption and dysfunction causing disenchantment and disaffection
Large and small election scandals:
- accusations of ballot box stuffing or improper counting procedures;
- unreasonable voting requirements;
- limiting, excluding or effectively outlawing (multi-) political party or (independent) candidate participation;
- gerrymandering of voting districts giving one party an unnatural advantage and delivering results contrary to the desires of the people as a whole.
- Limiting or prohibiting open, authentic debates
Highest Voter Turnout (%)
Top 10 Countries 2017-2022 (“parliamentary” applies to any
election in which members are elected to a legislative body, whether or not the
elective body is called a “parliament”)
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10. Antigua and Barbuda (Island in Atlantic) 2014 Parliamentary 90.27
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World Population Review https://worldpopulationreview.com/country-rankings/voter-turnout-by-country
Highest Voter Turnout (Top 10) among Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) Member Countries
- Belgium 87.2
- Sweden 82.6
- South Korea 77.9
- Denmark 80.3
- Australia 79
- Norway 78
- Netherlands 77.3
- Iceland 76.8
- Israel 76.1
- New Zealand 73.2
Latest published data 2015, WorldAtlas https://www.worldatlas.com/articles/countries-with-the-highest-voter-turnout.html
Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) Member Countries
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1. Australia |
2. Austria |
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3. Belgium |
4. Canada |
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5. Chile |
6. Colombia |
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7. Costa Rica |
8. Czech Republic |
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9. Denmark |
10. Estonia |
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11. Finland |
12. France |
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13. Germany |
14. Greece |
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15. Hungary |
16. Iceland |
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17. Ireland (Republic of) |
18. Israel |
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19. Italy |
20. Japan |
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21. Korea (South Korea/ROC) |
22. Latvia
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23. Lithuania
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24. Luxembourg
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25. Mexico
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26. Netherlands
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27. New Zealand
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28. Norway
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29. Poland
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30. Portugal
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31. Slovak Republic
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32. Slovenia
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33. Spain
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34. Sweden
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35. Switzerland
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36. Türkiye
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37. United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern |
38. United States of America
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https://www.oecd.org/about/document/ratification-oecd-convention.htm
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P |
rompted by Current reporting from the East laying bare US officials’ lead of Collective West in a relentless, aggressive interference and obstruction of elective processes abroad
September 24, 2022 Reporting
US President Joseph Biden, ahead of the actual voting in the Donbass Region (and never having set foot on the ground in that region),
Declares the process and outcome a “sham”;
Vows “never recognize” the decisions of voters; and
Threatens collective strangling of Russians and people of the Russian Federation with “severe economic costs”
Locking step with the US president’s threats, the Group of Seven (comprised of the United States, United Kingdom, Canada, France, Germany, Italy, and Japan) labels the people’s votes “‘illegitimate’ and undemocratic, and vows ‘never (to) recognize’" the voters' decision.
September 27, 2022 Reporting
Following the election, the Collective West’s interference refused to let up. The “sham” charge continued as did the vow of non-recognition and increased punishment.
A spokesman for the EU’s foreign policy chief Josep Borrell is reported declaring that
“The EU will slap sanctions on anyone involved in referendums on joining Russia in the Donbass republics, as well as in Zaporozhye and Kherson regions.”
Another loudspeaker connected with the European Union’s foreign policy division issued a public threat against individuals …“‘obviously linked’ to the referendums,” promising that they “‘would be targeted in the next sanctions package.’”
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Y
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ET, despite all the verbal threats of heavy hitters and all their lethal weaponry poured on Russia’s borders and into a reckless comedian’s Ukraine—courageous people in numbers reaching toward one hundred percent (far exceeding vote counts of any US election) showed up and voted their desire to join (to embrace and be embraced by) the Russian Federation.
“The polls were conducted in the republics, as well as in the Moscow-controlled parts of Ukraine’s Zaporozhye and Kherson Regions between September 23 and 27, 2022.” Both republics—that had broken away from Kiev in the aftermath of the 2014 Maidan coup and the ensuing conflict in Ukraine’s east—have shown a turnout exceeding 80 percent for the referendums.
- More than 98 percent of voters in Lugansk “have supported
the idea to join Russia” (official figures)
- Similar results are shown in the Donetsk vote after “a count of more than half the ballots
- Zaporozhye and Kherson regions’ ballot counts show “93 percent and 87 percent of voters, respectively,” have backed “the split from Ukraine and reunification with Russia”
- “Despite Kiev’s (and others) attempts to disrupt it…, the referendum” (according to local elections officials) stands; it “is considered valid.”
International observers of the elections came from Bulgaria, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Germany, Serbia, Mozambique, France, and the Central African Republic. All reported the “enthusiasm of voters” and that there were “no violations” in the elections process. They did note, however, the continuing “threats and shelling from Ukraine.”
Sources
RT news September 24, 2022 “Biden pledges ‘response’ to referendums: The US will target Russia’s economy over the votes in Donbass and two Moscow-controlled regions, the president says” https://www.rt.com/news/563446-biden-pledges-response-referendums-russia/
RT news September 25, 2022, “Early turnout numbers for referendums on joining Russia revealed: Preliminary results on the third of five voting days shows the threshold having been reached in Donbass and Zaporozhye and almost met in Kherson,” https://www.rt.com/russia/563509-donbass-referendums-turnout-figures/
TASS news September 27, 2022 “Voting on accession to Russia,” https://tass.com/politics/1514213
RT news September 27, 2022 “EU threatens foreign observers over Donbass referendums:The sanctions, if agreed, may also affect those monitoring votes on joining Russia in Zaporozhye and Kherson regions” https://www.rt.com/russia/563612-eu-referendum-donbass-sanctions/
Contents of full news reports RT News - September 27 2022 (20:00 MSK):
- Final referendum results in the Kherson Region with 96 percent saying yes to join Russia; that’s as preliminary data in the Donbass republics and the Zaporozhye Region shows over 90 percent in favor. Our correspondents report on location.
- Video evidence emerges showing what’s been described as unprecedented damage to the Nord Stream pipeline system with German media claiming possible sabotage.
- Russian President Vladimir Putin says the West broke its promises for Ukrainian grain to go to countries in need, as only a small fraction of the supplies went to Africa. https://www.rt.com/shows/news/563537-rtnews-september-27-20msk/
RT news September 27, 2022, “Donbass republic estimates timing of referendum results Polling stations are set to close in the coming hours as the Lugansk People’s Republic (LPR) votes on joining Russia,” https://www.rt.com/russia/563585-lugansk-referendum-results-tuesday/
World and National
Sources
Collage composed of individual Internet images
Composition, Commentary excluding quoted material and individual images
Copyright © Carolyn LaDelle Bennett
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